Article vending machine



Jan. 9, 1962. c. L. CASEY ET AL ARTICLE VENDING-MACHINE 4 3 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Sept. 26, 1958 Jan. 9,1962 0. CASEY ETAL 3,016,165

ARTICLE VENDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 26, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I y l 9/10 39 37 4/ IN V EN TORS CHA/ZLE L. an E) By A mi a. ,7QYA/O ATTOEA/EY}.

Jan. 9, 1962 c. L. CASEY ET AL 3,015,165

ARTICLE VENDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 26, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 F I l g 54125' & 54 a0 80 99 79 80 IN V EN TORS ,M -Ka" 3,016,165 ARTICLE VENDINGMACHINE Charles L. Casey, Riverside, and Juddson B. Ryno, Chicago, Ill.,assignors to Reliable Engineering Co., Chicago, III., a corporation ofIllinois Filed Sept. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 763,674

' 1 Claim. (Cl. 221- 116) This invention relates in general to vendingmachines, and more particularly to a machine for dispensing cartonedgoods, and still more particularly to a coin operated vending machinewhich dispenses an article on tender of a coin by the purchaser to acoin slot of the machine and appropriate manipulation of an operatinghandle.

Coin operated vending machines for dispensing cartoned goods asheretofore known have been complicated in structure, expensive tomanufacture, of low capacity, and susceptible to being tampered with andlooted. Moreover, vending machines in the past have been subject tobeing rendered inoperative by jamming of merchandise within the machine.

The vending machine of the present invention overcomes the abovedifiiculties and enables quick and efiicient vending of cartoned goods,while eliminating the common problem of the non-operative machine due tojamming of merchandise, and is completely foolproof against tampering.In addition, the machine of the present invention is capable of having alarge capacity, and is extremely simple in construction and may beeconomically manufactured.

The vending machinethat comprises this invention includes a housing orcabinet having a pair of spaced openings through which articles may bedispensed. A magazine is arranged in the cabinet and adapted to supporta double stack of cartoned articles in side-by-side relationship.Openings are provided in the magazine through which articles may beejected to'dispensing' chutes which connect with the openings in thecabinet. An ejector is provided for ejecting the lowermost article ofone of these stacks to a position where it may be gravity fed to thedispensing opening in the cabinet. Subsequently, the lowermost articlefrom the other stack is dispensed from the cabinet on the next stroke ofthe operating handle. The dispensed articles are delivered to theoperator of the machine upon tender of the proper coin to the coin slotof the machine and manipulaton of a handle aflixed to the outside'of thecabinet. The coin assumes a direct part in the operation of the machinein'defining a camming surface that serves to release a lock mechanismnormally maintaining the ejector in one position. Means in the formofguard bars are provided onthe ejector Patented Jan. 9, 1962 2 of avending machine that is foolproof against tampering.

Afurther'object of this invention is to provide a vending machine havinga large capacity for cartoned articles, wherein-the magazine holds adouble stack of articles and alternately dispenses the lowermost article.from one of the stacks. r Y

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision of avending machine including a magazine having openings through whicharticles may be ejected from a double stack arrangement, wherein meansis provided on the ejector for closing the opening oppositeto theopening through which an article is being ejected.

Another object of this invention is to provides vending machine having amagazine adapted to support a double stack of articles in side-by-siderelationship, and

, an ejector for ejecting the lowermost article of each stackalternately through an adjacent opening in the magazine,

for closing the magazine opening opposite to the opening through whichan article is ejected. Moreover, means is provided on the ejector formovement therewith which closes the opening through which an article isejected after that article has been ejected therethrough. In addi-.tion, mechanism is provided which prevents movement of the ejector in adirection which would jam the merchandise in the machine afterit'has'initiated a stroke to dispense anarticle from the magazine,aswell as me-' chanism for assisting in movement of the ejector after ithas been advanced through part of the ejecting stroke.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a vendingmachinethat is simple in construction in that it has a relatively small numberof parts, and may be economically manufactured.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a vendingmachine'for dispensing cartoned goods .one at a time that is foolproofagainst jammingof merchandisethatwould render it inoperative. g

Still another objectv of this invention is in the provision whereinmeans is provided on the magazine to close the opening opposite to theopening through which an article is being ejected and to close theopening through which an article is ejectedafter the ejection operation.

Still another object of this invention is in the provision of a vendingmachine including a magazine adapted to support a double stack ofarticles in side-by-side relationof the ejector after an ejection strokehas been initiated.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following detailed dis closure, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein-like referencenumerals refer to like parts, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofthe vending machine according to the invention;

,FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the vending machine internaloperating components with the cover broken away; Y

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially along line 33of FIG. 2, illustrating the dispensing chute between the cabinet openingand the ejector dispensing position;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially along line 44of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG.2;

' FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the ejector in one position;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 6 but illustrating theejector in another position; FIG. 8 is a bottom plan'view of certain ofthe detailed mechanism, taken along line 8-8 of FIG. '2, and withcertain parts eliminated forpurposes of clarity;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but showing the parts in anotherposition; j j FIG. 10 is a sectional view; taken substantially alongline 10-'10 of FIG. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrow;

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially along line11-11 of FIG. 5;.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 with the'coin lever' in downposition; I I FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view and with some partsfragmentary, taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 2'and illustrating themechanism for closing the coin slot when the magazine is empty; and

' FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially along line1414 of 'FIG. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrow. Referring nowto the drawings and-particularly to FIG.. 1, the articlevending machine,according to the present invention, is generally designated by thenumeral 20 and includes an enclosure orcabinet 21. The cabinet includesrear section 22 and a front or cover section 23 which constitutes arectangular box-shaped cabinet. The rear section includes back panel 24,side panels 25 and 26, FIG. 4, a bottom panel 27, and a top panelparallel spaced from the bottom panel but not specifically illustrated.

The rear section 22 is closed by the cover section 23 which includes afront panel 28 and a peripheral flange 29 that completely telescopesover the entire peripheral edge at the open side of the rear section 22.A key operated lock 30, FIG. 1, is provided to lock the cover section 23on the rear section 22. The vending machine 20 may be mounted on a wallby means of screws or other fasteners arranged to secure the back panel24 against awall, or it may be mounted on a stand if desired.

The front panel 28 of the cover section 23 is provided with :a coin slotplate 31, FIGS. 1 and 13, having a coin slot 32 for receiving a coindeposited by the operator, a handle 33 to be manipulated by the operatorin operation of the machine, and a pair of spaced openings 34 and 35through which articles may be dispensed upon operation of the machine.The openings are arranged at the lower corners of the front panel 28 asseen in FIG. 1..

A magazine is provided within the cabinet 21 which is capable ofreceiving a double stack of articles in side-byside relationship, andthis magazine includes vertically spaced partitions or walls 36, 37 and3-8, FIG. 2, each of which is secured to the rear panel 24 and projectstoward the-front panel 28. Between the partitions 36 and 37, themagazine chamber 39 is defined for receiving a stack of articles 40,while the partitions 37 and 39 define therebetween a magazine chamber 41for receiving a second stack of articles 42. The individual articles maybe designated by the letter A. The forward edges of the partitions 36,37 and 38 terminate in spaced relationship from the cover panel 23 toprovide room for operating mechanism. In addition to the magazinechambers, storage chambers 43 and 44, FIG. 2, are defined between theside panel 25 and the partition 36, and the partition 38 and the sidepanel 26. A supporting plate 45 extends between the partition 36 andtheside panel 25 and is secured thereto for supporting a stack of articles46 in the storage chamber 43. Similarl a horizontally extendingsupporting plate 47 extends between the partition 38 on the side panel26 for supporting a stack of articles 48 in the storage chamber 4 4.Thus, the vending machine of the present invention includes storagecapacity which increases the usefulness and desirability of the machine.

The lowermost article in at least one of the stacks is always supportedby the bottom 49 of the magazine chambers 39 and 41. This bottom isspaced inwardly from the bottom panel 27 ofthe cabinet and supported bymeans. of a pair of parallel spaced legs 50 and 51 that have inwardlydirected flanges 52 and 53, respectively, FIG. 2, resting on the bottompanel 27 of the cabinet. A forwardly arranged vertical mounting plate 54extends downwardly from the forward edge of the magazine bottom 49 andis provided with a pair of flanges 55'bent at right angle thereto whichmay be secured to the inner surfaces of the opposed legs 50 and 51.

The articles from the stacks 40 and 42 are removed one at a time fromthe magazine chambers 39 and 41 by means of an ejector, generallydesignated by the numeral 56, wherein the ejector is arranged toalternately eject the lowermost article from each of the stacks. Theejector includes anelongated, rectangularly-shaped base plate 57, FIG.4, capable of spanning the magazine chambers 39 and 41 and the areabetween one of the partitions 36 and 38 and the outer side panel of thecabinet. Projecting forwardly of the base plate 57 is a rectangularsection 58 having upwardly directed flanges 59 and 60 which extendparallel to each other. The base plate 57 is sized to be arranged attherear-portion of the underlying magazine bottom 49.

An inverted U-shaped member 61 having downwardly bent flanges 62 and 63is secured to the section 58 of the ejector whereby the flanges 62 and'63 are telescopically received on the flanges 59 and 60 and securedthereto as most clearly seen in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7. The upper surface ofthe U-shaped member 61 serves to support the lowermost article in one ofthe stacks, while the flanges 62 and 63 define pushers for ejectingarticles from the stacks. For example, the flange 63 will eject articlesfrom the stack 42 upon reciprocation of the ejector 56 toward the rightas viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7, while the flange 62 will eject the lowermostarticle from the stack 40 when the ejector is reciprocated to the left.Thus, reciprocation of the ejector etfects ejecting alternately thelowermost article from each of the stacks.

The partitions 36 and 38 terminate upwardly from the magazine bottom 49a distance slightly greater than the thickness of a single article A anddefine opposed magazine openings 64 and 65 through which articles areejected from the magazine. In order to prevent tampering and removal ofarticles without operating the ejection mechanism, tamper guards 66 and67 are mounted on theejector and movable therewith to respectively closethe magazine openings 64 and 65 during reciprocation of the ejector.Each tamper guard is in the form of an upstanding plate having a heightslightly less than the magazine openings and a length substantiallyequal to the opening, and is integrally attached to the base plate 57 asseen in FIG. 4. Thus, during the stroke of the ejector 56 to the rightas viewed in FIG. 6, the lowermost article A of the stack 42 will beejected by the pushing section 63 to dispensing position through theopening 65, while the tamper guard 66 closes the opening 64 of themagazine chamber 39. Similarly, when the ejector 56 is stroked towardthe left in FIG. 7, the pushing section 62 of the ejector will eject thelowermost article A from the stack 40 through the opening 64 of themagazine chamber 39, while the tamper guard 67 will close the opening 65of the magazine chamber 41. On the other hand, the push ing sections 62and 63 respectively close the openings 64 and 65 through which anarticle has been ejected after the ejection operation. The middlepartition 37 terminates above the magazine bottom by a distance slightlygreater than the height of the inverted U-shaped member 61, therebypermitting passage of the inverted U-shaped member between the magazinechambers 39 and 41, but preventing the transfer of articles between thetwo chambers. Accordingly, it is seen that it is impossible to remove anarticle from either of the chambers without stroking the ejector 56.

The ejector 56,.in one of the eject positions, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 6,initially moves the lowermost article from the magazine chamber 41 tothe position A, FIG. 3, where the forward end of the article, beingunsupported, will fall down to the position as seen by the article A3.When the article reaches the full eject position as seen in FIG. 6, onlythe backend of the article will be supported by the-base plate 57 of theejector, thereby permitting the article to pivot on the forward edge ofthe base plate and topple down onto an arcuately-shaped guide plate 68which coacts with a reverse L-shaped plate 69 to define a chute 70leading to the cabinet opening 35 in the front panel 28. The articlesthen will be gravity fed downwardly to the point shown by the articleA4, FIG. 3,

whereby the operator can reach through the opening and grasp the articleand remove it from the machine. The chute guide 68 and the plate 69 maybe secured to the leg 51of the inside framework. Similarly, when theejector ejects an article from the magazine chamber 39, it will drop andbe guided to the opening 34 by means of a guide plate 71 and a reverseL-shaped plate 72 defining a chute '73. Similarly, the plates 71 and 72may be secured to the leg 50 of theinside framework.

The ejector 56 is stroked or reciprocated by means of an actuating lever74 pivotally mounted on a pin 75 secured to an upstanding portion 76of amounting plate 77, FIG. 2. The mounting plate 77 includes a forwardlybent, generally horizontal section 78 extending from the lower end ofthe upstanding section 76, FIG. 10, and in spaced relationship from themagazine bottom 49. A second upstanding portion 79 extends downwardlyfrom the forward edge of the horizontal portions 78 and lies against themounting plate 54. Fasteners 80, FIG. 2, se cure the portion 79 to themounting plate 54 and-thus the entire mounting plate 77 to the frameworkwithin the cabinet. A horizontally extending slot 81 is formed in theupstanding section 76 of the mounting plate 77 to receive a roller 82extending from a vertical panel 83 bent downwardly at the forward end ofthe inverted U-shaped member 61 of the ejector. The free end of theactuating lever 74 is provided with an open-ended slot 84 which slidablyreceives the roller 82 on the ejector, whereby swinging or oscillatingmovement'of the actuating lever 74 reciprocates the ejector 56 betweenits opposite ejecting positions.

The upper end of the actuating lever 74 is provided with a pair offorwardly extending fingers 85 which receive between their oppositeinner faces a pair of fingers 86 connected to a plate 87, FIGS. 2 and 5.Theplate 87 is secured on the end of a shaft 88 journaled in a bearing89 mounted on the front panel 28 of the cover. The shaft 88 is alsoconnected to the handle 33, whereby oscillation of the handle 33 willeffect oscillation of the actuating lever 74 through the driving fingers85 and 86.

The ejector 56 is slidably guided along the magazine bottom 49, whereinthe rear edge of the base plate 57 is prevented from moving rearwardlyin the cabinet and along the magazine bottom 49 by means of an upturnedguide plate 90, FIGS. 4, 5 and 10, and the ejector is prevented frommoving any substantial distance forwardly of the magazine bottom bymeans of an extension 91 integral with the rectangular section 58 of theejector, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. The extension 91 is slidably guided betweenthe forward edge of the magazine bottom 49 and the horizontal section 78of the mounting plate 77 thereby holdingthe front end of the ejectordown against the magazine bottom. The forward edge of the extensions 91cannot move forwardly any further than the upstanding portions 79 of themounting plate 77. In addition, the roller 82 prevents upward movementof the ejector by being received in'the slot 81-of the mounting plate77. And with removal of the cover 23, the fingers 86 carried therebyseparate from the fingers 85 of the actuating lever 74 to permit removalof the cover from the cabinet and access thereinto. f

The extension 91 also coacts with the coin mechanism to lock the ejector56 in either of the ejecting positions, wherein opposing edges 92 and 93of the extension may respectively engage the edges 94 and 95 of a stop96 on a pivotally mounted lever 97. The coin lever 97 is 'piv-p otallymounted on a pin 98 at the back side of the mounting plate 54, FIGS. 11and 12. A longitudinally extending slot 99 is provided in the magazinebottom 49, FIG. 4, to receive the stop 96 so that it extends above theplane of the magazine bottom 49 and normally in the path of the ejectorextension 91.

A spring 100 is fastened at one end to the mounting plate 54 and at theother end to an arm 101 of the lever 97, FIGS. 11 and 12, to normallybias the lever into the position shown in FIG. 11 where the upper edgesof the lever abut against the under side of the magazine bottom 49. Andin'this position, the stop 96 extends above the plane of the magazinebottom 49 and in the path of the ejector extension 91 so that itprevents stroking or" reciprocation of the ejector.

A coin pocket is defined in the coin mechanism by pins 102 and 103projecting laterallyfromthe coin lever 97, the lever 97 itself, and aplate 104 depending from the under side. of the magazine bottom 49, FIG.5, whereby a coin may be received as seen in FIG. 11.

The coin C, when received in the coin pocket ofthecoin mechanism as seenin FIG. 11, serves to take the place of the stop 96 and the stop edge 95while serving as a cam member during stroking of the ejector, wherebythe edge 93 of the ejector extension 91 engages the rounded edge of thecoin C and transmits a force through the coin which forces the coinmechanism lever 97. down-,

wardly, FIG. 12. The coin C as seenin FIG. 12 is rolled over the pin 103on the lever 97 and ultimately permitted to drop downwardly into a coinbox or the like. Once the coin C is free from the pin 103 on the lever,the spring 100 brings the coin lever 97 back to its normal position forlocking the ejector in its ejected position. Similarly, when the nextcoin is received in the coin pocket, the other opposing'edge 92 of theejector extension 91 engages the coin and rolls it over the pin 102' onthe coin lever 97. In each case, the coin serves to take the place ofthe stop 97 and the edges 94 and 95 and act as a direct the machinewithout tendering of a coin, a pin may be inserted in an aperture 107which extends through the panel 79 of the mounting plate 77 and themounting plate 54 after pulling down of the lever 97, whereby the lever97 will be locked by the pin in its down position thereby keeping thestop 96 of the lever continually out of the path of the ejectorextension 91. This permits free operation.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 8 and 9, mechanism is provided for aiding inthe stroking or reciprocation of the ejector to provide positivemovement of-the ejector to its extreme ejecting positions, wherein abifurcated lever 108 is pivotally mounted on a pin 109 at the under sideof the magazine bottom 49 and at a midpoint between the legs and 51. Aspring 110 is connected at one end to a lug 111 extending downwardlyfrom the end of the lever 108 opposite its bifurcated end, and at itsother end' to a lug 112 extending down from an angle plate 113 which issecured to the under surface of the magazine bottom 49; The bifurcatedend of the lever 108 includes curvate camming surfaces 114 and 115 whichalternately engage a roller 116 which extends downwardly from therectangular section 58, FIG. 10, of the ejector 56 and through alongitudinally extending slot .117. A disk-shaped plate 118 is securedto the free: end of the roller 116 and is of gages a cam surface 115 onthe bifurcated lever 108 and drives it against the action of the springto the position shown in dotted lines in FIG; 9 and designated by thenumeral 108A, at which time the spring 110 acts directly against thelever 108 and the pin 109' in a position of the lever which may bedefined as a position where the spring will not act to shift thebifurcated lever 108 to either position. As the roller 116 of theejector further urges the bifurcated lever towardthe left, as seen inFIG. 9,, the spring 110 is then brought'offcenter with the pin 109'audserves to aid in forcing the lever 108 to the position shown in fullline in FIG. 9. vSimilarly, when the roller 116 of the'ejector isshiftedin the other direction,

the'roller engages the cam surface 114 of the bifurcated lever 108 andshifts the lever to its other position, whereupon the lever aids inshifting the ejector after the spring has passed the dead centerposition. Hence, means is provided to assure positive ejecting positionof the ejector should an operator not force the ejector to its completeejection position.

In orderto prevent return of the ejector to the position from which itis moving away during stroking of the ejector, a plurality oflongitudinally spaced apertures 119 are provided in the extension 91 forcoaction with the pawl 120 pivotally mounted on a plate 121 secured tothe angle plate 113 at the under side of the magazine bottom 49' byfasteners 122, FIGS. 4, 5, and 14. Aspring 123 is fastened at one end tothe pawl 120 and at the other end to the plate 121 for normallymaintaining the pawl in a vertical position. The pawl extends upwardlyinto engagement with the extension plate 91 of the ejector and theapertures 119, whereby movement of the ejector in either direction willforce the pawl off center against the biasing of the spring 123, wherebythe bridges between the apertures 119 serve as spaced stops to engagethe pawl and prevent return of the ejector until it has completelypassed the row of apertures. Then, on the return stroke the pawl will bepivoted olf center in the opposite direction and serve to prevent returnof the ejector until it has again passed the extension 91 and theapertures 119 so that it can return to normal vertical position. Thus, aperson putting a coin in the machine will not experience losing of thecoin by starting the stroke of the ejector and not completing it beforea lapse of time.

Inasmuch as the lowermost-article is ejected from each of the stacksalternately, the stacks will be emptied at a similar rate. Once themagazine chamber 41 is empty with the depletion of the stack 42, agravity actuated wire member 124, FIGS. 2 and 13, functions to block thecoin slot 32 and refuse further coins. This wire member is pivotallymounted on an extension 125 of the mounting plate .77 and includes anarticle detecting leg 12-6 and a coin refusing leg 127, wherein the.ejection of the lowermost article A on the stack 4-2, FIG. 13, permitsthe heavier end 127 of the wire member 124 to swing the member about itspivot so that the coin refusing leg 1Z7 assumes a position shown indotted lines wherein it blocks the coin slot 32; Thus, when the machineis empty, it is not possible for a person to lose his coin without anarticle.

The articles A are retained in their proper stacked relationship withinthe magazine chambers after the machine has been filled by means of aremovable article retaining bar 128, FIGS. 2 and 5, which is removablyre- 8 ceived on an upstanding projection 129 of the mounting plate 77.When filling the machine, the :bar 128 may be removed to facilitatefilling and subsequently replaced in order to maintain ,the articles Aproperly located in the magazine chambers.

In view of the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention providesa relatively simplyconstructed and easily operable vending machine whichhas a very large capacity and foolproof operation.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention, but it is understood that this application is to be limitedonly by the scope of the appended claim.

The invention is claimed as follows:

An article vending machine comprising, a cabinet having front, backside, top and bottom panels, a pair of spaced openings in said frontpanel through which articles are to be dispensed, a magazine in saidcabinet adapted to support a double stack of articles in side-by-siderelation, said magazine having opposite side walls and a bottom wallextending between said cabinet front and back panels, said magazine sidewalls terminating above said bottom wall and defining a pair of opposedopenings adjacent said bottom wall thereof through which the articlesmay be ejected, guide means between said magazine and cabinet openingsfor guiding articles ejected from the magazine openings to the cabinetopenings, ejector means for ejecting alternately the lowermost articleof one stack through one of said magazine openings and the lowermostarticle of the other of said stacks through the other of said magazineopenings, and means for assisting the stroke of the ejector means afterit has partially ejected an article through a magazine opening, saidmeans for assisting the stroke of the ejector means including a pinextending from said ejector means, a bifurcated lever engageable withsaid pin and pivotally mounted adjacent the ejector means and a springconnected to said lever and biasing same to a predetermined position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS874,236 Pond Dec. 17, 1907 1,144,100 Bolen June 22, 1915 1,395,941Beattie Nov. 1, 1921 1,548,670 Echols Aug. 4, 1925 1,669,167 Kelley May8. 1928 2,359,397 Steiner Oct. 3, 1944 2,413,454 Kidwell Dec. 31, 19462,445,830 Hilton July 27, 1948 one u; wit-d.

